62. Young Players - Part 1 Some good advice

Barry Stark coaches ten year old Westley. In this part one video Westley helps Barry explain the importance of health and wellbeing for a snooker player with some useful advice on warming up and physical exercise, especially for a young player whose anatomical physique is still developing. In fact, the same advice is relevant at any age. Watch Westley do his warm up exercises and then pot a few balls. See how he holds the cue and demonstrate a pre-shot routine.
/ barrystarksnookercoach

[@derpderp257]

Barry you da man. Watching your videos have improved my game immensely. Thanks for the great videos.

[@zakariaez497]

sir barry, you are a legend. thank you!

[@bottlecap57]

Little fella has a lot of potential. Nice to see he doesn't have one of those overly long backswings.

[@Earthau]

Wow Westley a super star in the making, plenty of power in some of those shots with good follow through.

[@MrToftheL]

Very well played, Wesley. You're doing great and you're lucky to have such a wise coach. I do believe that if you came over here to Australia you'd be one of the better players in my club!

[@valyanovsky5653]

Consilium if from Australia, were trash at snooker but pool is super popular ay

[@kylestephenson1914]

Eddie charlton trash ok

[@mahmoudturkmani3329]

Good job Kid ! You have a great talent. Keep it up

[@rob-lk4ud]

Great video Barry, the kid is quite talented

[@addy5066]

Thank u v much for videos barry.Gonna do the exercise everyday before going to game.

[@fanofmrbean6294]

This is really wonderful whoever who is young and wants to be a proffesional player when they are bigger thanks Barry for this hard work may god bless you and carry on doing this wonderful work

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

fan. Many thanks, young Wesley is a very good player for his age and is prepared to work hard, I obviously hope that he fulfils his potential.

[@john2490ful]

Young lad is in safe hands☺

[@MEECHIO]

Excellent video Barry, as someone who suffers with back pain I never thought of pre match/practice exercises. Secondly well done Young Westley, he pots really well for 10 years old and could go far in the game especially with coaching and guidance from your good self.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

MEECHIO. All sportsmen warm up and cool down before they play and I believe that snooker players should do the same. Adopting the snooker position is quite an unnatural position and done for many hours over several years can cause repetitive strain on a players body, proper stretching etc can serve to alleviate this.

[@TyroneKing1977]

Just a general thank you! I wish I knew all you have taught me at a young age. Still I wanted to try and find more consistency to cut down the frustration levels. You have already made a difference. Wesley is a very lucky and talented lad.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Tyrone. Its never too late, although I played a little as a youngster I didn't start playing seriously until in my forties.

[@roshand6580]

Thanks Barry. Always learning from you.

[@BBBBD147]

This could be the video I've been waiting on, I'll have to watch it a bit later though, I'll let you know. Thanks Barry.

[@johnpendleton2227]

I just stumbled onto your teaching videos about a month ago. You Sir, are an incredible teacher as well as an incredible person. I look forward to many more videos from you. Maybe one day I can actually understand what I'm doing when I get down to take my shot! LOL

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

John. Many thanks. Keep trying to do things correctly and it will come. Good luck.

[@basho5953]

i hope this old man Barry Stark never dies

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Rokinho. Many thanks. I plan to be around for some time yet.

[@brahimlaamouri2170]

This kid plays better than me lol .-.

[@jama211]

Me too haha

[@Daniele-jz8pt]

Good job Westley!

[@fanofmrbean6294]

Nice video sir this is very advicable for children like Wesley who wants be a professional and he listens a word you say but I haven't got a medical parts at4:17 and Wesley is so quiet he concentrates on everything you say he doesn't look around the pool table or at the pictures so that's a good sign for Wesley his age respect to you sir keep it up

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

fan. Wesley takes the game very seriously, its one reason why he is so good.

[@DarrenJohnson1973]

A strong core....and legs....paying attention to the traps obliques, upper lower and middle abs and hip flexors...and quads...keep them strong and you'll never have to worry about posture, I think what you are referring to Barry is getting the blood moving so as to prevent cramping particularly in the traps and perhaps trapping the sciatic nerve in the lower back,,,,too many players have over developed beer guts and that will certainly give them posture problems as the back muscles are trying to support the belly when they aren't resting it on the table...

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Darren. Well said. I am particularly concerned with the neck area where the repetitive strain of playing snooker for long hours can cause muscle imbalance and therefore problems later on.

[@justluke8836]

good video the only thing id say about the warm up is the rolling of the head, a lot of gym instructors will say it can be damaging and use the look left to the front look right to the front look up to the front and down to the front.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

luke. As a former gym instructor myself I am aware of these thoughts, that is why we do it very gently and very slowly.

[@justluke8836]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach i did hear you were a gym instructor. its a new thing that they are saying when i took my training. it never hurt me when i was growing just thought id highlight it for you.

[@acediy2234]

Body joints follow hooke's law. Always a limit and that limit is way beyond what i see in this video.

[@shehryarmalik223]

SIR GREAT JOB ,GREAT INSTRUCTIONS AND COACHING DONE BY YOUR GOOD SELF FOR ALL THE SNOOKER PLAYERS, WISH I COULD GET YOUR EXPERIENCE AND UTILIZE MY SKILLS IN BEST FORM, REGARDS, FROM PAKISTAN

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

shehryar. Always nice to be appreciated, many thanks and I hope the videos are helpful.

[@matthewtrain5674]

Thanks lots Barry, this is useful because I am 12

[@dnbmania]

I think number one is allowing young players to enjoy the game and not putting them through the ringer straight away

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

dnbmania. Well said, could not agree more.

[@jasonshowers]

dnbmania as long as you don't let the bad habits develop (if they are aspiring professionals)

[@dazza912]

Brilliant as always Mr stark..i play in my local club, Mark Williams in fact and notice that youngsters who seem naturally short just like young Wesley suddenly shoot up in height and I often wonder is it because snooker messes with natural growth haha..no seriously a young kid who plays at the club was 4ft and a dot..a few months later he's 5ft and struggling with his cuing..The adjustment must be importànt and that's the difficult bit I suppose. Also regarding the pause. I asked Doug Mountjoy one day "Is it better to pause at the cue ball or on the back swing ? ..His reply was .."It doesn't matter, " This got me thinking about my own pause..i now realise that I'm at the cue ball though sometimes alters with certain shots, I've never had coaching just watched others and tried to replicate in what I see..I wish I did have proper coaching in my formative years just like young Wesley and your other prodigy kyren Wilson..This video is a must for other youngsters taking up the game and especially the warm up routine..many thanks ..😊

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Dazza. You are so right, these youngsters are in their formative years anatomically and should be guided accordingly. Repetitive strain will be there for any activity that requires repetition, (hence the name) and if that activity or position is not anatomically symmetrical even bigger problems can develop. In respect of the pause I believe a lot of problems occur in the transition of moving the cue back and then forward. To alleviate this I also believe in a slight pause, or slowing down before delivery. A double pause is also adopted by some top players, front and rear.

[@walidsarwary]

the kid is the master already

[@JackY-fd1vy]

Thank you so much for this advice:)

[@adamwhelan1311]

Hi Barry, wonderful to see your last upload. It's really important what you have been through. I feel them stretching exercises have been over looked . I've a couple off nephews and a daughter who are just starting to show an interest in the game. Hopefully they'll grow to love it as we have and that video will help. I've just come in after losing in a quarter final league game. A few people said I'd done well but to me I feel I could push on more. I think ive got a problem sighting. I wear glasses as do you. Could you please do a video or send a message back as I think that's where a little knot in my game is. If it helps any I'm left eye over the cue. Hope you get this message and thank you for your wonderful and informative videos, regards Adam

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

adam. Very difficult to help without seeing you play, I assume you wear snooker glasses and not ordinary glasses which can hinder progress. If that is the case may I suggest you pay particular attention to your grip, where and how you hold the cue rather than the location of the cue in relation to the eyes. I don't mean you can ignore the dominant eye but most players adopt the correct position naturally. If there is one thing I have learned over the years its that if a player has a problem with his game you can bet the grip is part of the cause. Have a look at my video on it and good luck.

[@adamwhelan1311]

Thanks Barry I will have a look. Cheers

[@TheZiggZagg]

Wesley is 100x better than me 🤣 Keep it up little dude, I’ve got a good feeling about your future in snooker!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Nick. Wesley is certainly a talented youngster. I too wish him well.

[@NadeemAli-fw8sy]

Good job sir...

[@markragnauth8670]

nice job young man

[@SuperTOPO96]

He is Florian when he was little haha xD. Very good video :)

[@etagim]

what a good lad !

[@snookerlogics]

awesome sir 😍

[@TheSavagederek]

wow ! young Wesley is one to watch for the future . what a great young talent . I try to take my 12 yr old son with me every Sunday for a game . his stance changes constanly and he has quite a jump on the shot . is there a good way to make sure he stays down on the shot for a longer time ?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Derek. A picture is worth a thousand words, put the youngster on video and let him see the movement. Then give him a simple task like holding the finish position for two seconds after playing the shot, keep it simple and make it fun and reward a good session with a pat on the back or a treat.

[@TheSavagederek]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach Thanks Barry 🖒

[@tuffluckgaming2475]

Derek Savage Simon

[@nezirademi1359]

Derek Savage 9

[@amazed66]

Stand behind him as he is paying the shot and rest the butt end of your cue on top of his head.

[@vishalbali7893]

good afternoon sir you explain very well where to place right leg and left leg and bridge hand sir will you please explain where and how much far I place my head during cueing the shot

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Vishal. Once you have taken up your position your chin should be on the cue. The actual position will be dictated by your eyes and sighting position.

[@blackie75]

The Symemetry...that's a new one Barry hahaha.

[@theblackssvipssvzy8422]

good

[@wetolacerda2055]

parabéns! seu canal é muito bom!

[@gerardocaro2138]

Exelente video

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Mammer. Many thanks.

[@tuyendo929]

very good

[@kurtpatterson18]

Hello, Mr Stark.... This Xmas I have introduced my 8 year old son to Snooker by getting him a 4ft6 table, so your videos are like a visual 'fountain of knowledge' to help me to help him continue his progression. May I pick your brains and ask at what stages should I be upgrading the size of the table or should I be introducing him to a full size table from the outset? Kind regards.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Kurt. Its not so much the age but more about the child's size. I like to see children being able to adopt something like a normal position at the table before moving up. I have seen parents carrying boxes around for the child to stand on, a bit extreme possibly but it can work. Bad body positional habits can be difficult to budge later on and there is no better judge than you as to what your child is capable of but at that age there is certainly no rush.

[@BBBBD147]

Thank you Barry for this video, I for one can vouch for playing hrs and hrs of this great sport, without doing these simple warm-up exercises. What's the outcome - pain! I consider myself quite a fit lad also, but still getting possibly RSI. I'll maybe have to do them in the house before going down the club before a match though, lol. Barry, a small request. Would you mind doing a video about cue care? I have noticed that you have a jointed cue, I do also. I met a young lad down the club this afternoon who didn't even realise that he needed to look after those parts also. Billy

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

billy. I should also add that stretching after a session is also important. In respect of cue care I would recommend a very light coating of good quality linseed oil once a year particularly on an ash cue, also it does the cue some good to have it re-furbished by a reputable dealer occasionally If the joint is made of brass just give it a wipe occasionally with a cloth that has WD-forty on it. Brass tends to get a coating on it and that will remove it and stop the joint squeaking as you assemble the cue.

[@BBBBD147]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach without a doubt, so important to warm down also. I shall to invest in some of that oil then. Thank you Barry. I shall certainly pass this knowledge on to the youngster down at the club. Kind regards, Billy

[@cbb2731]

hi barry plz make a video on potting blue avoiding 3 colour balls. also side spin techniqe.. thanks

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Chirag. I have already covered potting the blue and avoiding the baulk colours in one of the videos, please have a look,applying side spin has also been covered at length in one or two other videos.

[@מזהראברהים]

nice

[@saifibutt4382]

sir Please can you tell me.its make me confuse.when i go to shot then sometime my cue not come under my dominant eye.so if i want to bring my cue under my dominant eye how i can do it?i will move my cue fully under my dominant eye?or i will move my head and bring my dominant eye on the cue?please explain me?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

shahzaib. Players tend to get in the correct sighting position naturally, moving the cue directly under the dominant eye only becomes necessary if and when a player is cueing across the ball. Don't become obsessed with this, generally the cue is positioned towards the dominant eye not directly under it.

[@TheYmahmood]

Hi barry, just a quick question. When playing shots should use your wrists to feather the cue or should you use your back arm more instead? Really appreciate it

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Yousaf. Every body is different but just using your wrist can give players problems. The arm is going to have to move at some stage so its usually best to groove its use during the preliminaries, i.e. feathering.

[@dubraja6469]

who wants to see a match btw old man and Wesley?

[@tech-1014]

Abhinav Prakash obviosly barry will win :P

[@amarsbarr]

That 10 year old kid is a better player and more talented than Selina!!! Lol

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

amarsbarr. That is very true but he has been playing longer and he doesn't have to run a family home or earn a living.

[@amarsbarr]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach valid points :)

[@Ironsvillage]

I wonder if he still plays. He must be insanely good right now

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

MEDrums. I haven't seen young Westley for what seems a long time, I am sure he is still playing, nobody with the potential and enthusiasm that Westley had stops playing just like that.

[@Ironsvillage]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Thanks for replying Barry, I do hope so! Wish you all the best in these tough times.

[@karanrathod9016]

the young player is better than me and i am 18

[@knutnskar6796]

Karan Rathod me too and I am 47 😂😂

[@KS-kb4zt]

Gandpa from my dreams!!!

[@cooperdenmen510]

I know that my back arm is not vertical and when I pause just before I shoot, I can feel my arm moving sideways. How do I fix that?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Cooper. Don't worry too much about the arm not being vertical although you could check out your shoulder mobility to see if this is the cause. If the arm is moving out as you deliver the cue it suggests that you are using the major muscles of the arm too much in the cue delivery. Have a look at my video on the grip and see if the introduction of a little wrist in your action can reduce the movement. On a final note, let me say that the only thing that matters is delivering the cue in a straight line, how you do it is largely irrelevant but certainly conforming to basics should give you the best chance of doing it. Good luck.

[@cooperdenmen510]

I can still feel that I'm not cueing in a straight line and on my swing back I keep hitting my hip, how do I fix this?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Cooper. A slight modification in your stance should eliminate the hip problem, if you are right handed try moving your left foot slightly forward more. Cueing in a straight line is simply a matter of grooving the muscle action correctly. Cue along the baulk line with the cue on the chest and then off the chest. Do this very slowly, almost in slow motion, be honest to yourself. Work hard at it making the muscles ache a little while you correct any flaws.

[@bangashfaxail262]

Finding coach like u ......PAKISTAN

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Bangash. There are a lot of good players from Pakistan, I cannot believe there are not any good coaches also.

[@harshishsingh2785]

Dear sir! When my cue ball reach cushon then it is very difficult to play the shot and maximum time my shot miss the desired pot.I also need how to make snooks bcoz all the time i tried to give snook to my opponent bt i fail😔

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Harshish. All players find it difficult to play from close to the cushion, even professionals don't like the shots because it limits their control of the cue ball. Take a look at my video that covers this issue, try to keep still and accept that it is a very difficult shot to execute well and don't be too adventurous with your positioning of the white ball. Laying snookers is largely a matter of cue ball control and that demands a lot of practise, if you are really struggling with cue ball control try playing a little billiards, this will teach you directional aspects of the cue ball which can then be adopted to snooker. Joe Davis was of the opinion that his snooker expertise owed a lot to his proficiency at billiards and he wasn't a bad player was he!!!

[@aliciathegymnast528]

Westley goes to my school

[@PeT3R360]

Hi sir first of all iam a big follower of you. Can we talk on the phone. I need suggestion to train my younger brother. Waiting for your reply .

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

rafay. At the moment I am afraid due to personal and other commitments I don't have time for personal coaching, perhaps in the New Year my situation may change, who knows.

[@PeT3R360]

Sir, I really appreciate if you could tell me your best time to contact.. thanks for your reply

[@elishaaugustine641]

hello barry give me advise how to break safely

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Elisha. The idea of the break off is to start the game and leave your opponent with little or no options to start scoring and ideally in such a position that it is very difficult for him/her not to leave an opening for you to exploit. However this is not always easy, even the professionals mess it up more often than they would like. If you are having problems with what is considered the conventional break, where the cue ball is swung around the angles to reach the baulk area; either behind the green or the yellow then possibly the better and safer option is to return the cue ball to the baulk area after a thin contact on the outside red of the triangle. By using this method you will only disturb the pack of reds slightly and with some regard to the pace of the shot you should be able to gauge a safe return to the baulk area. It is unlikely that you will put your opponent in trouble but at least it should be unlikely that you will leave an opening.

[@elishaaugustine641]

thank you barry i'll try this method tomorrow

[@smallpr0x]

anyone know where i could buy a good table?

[@mitchellhuett3394]

John there's one going on eBay for £15. Genuinely looks alright tbf

[@mitchellhuett3394]

John that's if you want pool table. Snooker tables will cost thousands

[@hemptime123]

what's that young man's high break? I imagine he would stomp me in a game.

[@bazzarooney123]

hemptime123 105 in practice 89 in a frame

[@hemptime123]

very impressive man

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

hemptime. Not sure of his highest break in a game but Westley has already made centuries in practise line ups.

[@stevenkerr9017]

hemptime123 If he is the same young man that I saw in the video ('Training Station'. Featuring John Parrot, Shane Murphy, and Mark Selby), then his highest break is (or was)104 (at the time the video was posted to KZbin). Pretty damn good, in anybody's book!

[@kasimhussain93]

How can i get coaching from you??

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Kasim. Sorry. But family and other commitments limit my time at the moment so personal one to one coaching is somewhat impossible.

[@kasimhussain93]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach thank you understandable

[@jakeward6650]

I'm not sure if you know, but you can't warm up the spine. A warm up is to increase the pliability of the muscles before exercise, and the spine, being a bone, is not pliable regardless of whether you do these rotations or not

[@Hulks92]

Warming up the spinal bone? Haha. Back warmups and exercise are for the spinal muscles.

[@lewis8634]

Jake Stevenson ohh dear...

[@Hulks92]

The muscles that control back form and related movement.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Jake. You make it sound as if the spine is a solid bone which of course it is not. Very briefly the spine is made up of vertebrae stacked upon each other and held together by ligaments, tendons and muscles. Warming and stretching the muscles keeps them supple, helps to prevent injury and limits the possible damage that the repetitive strain of playing snooker can cause, particularly in a young and maturing body.This is particularly true in the delicate cervical area where continually lifting the head and holding that position can cause an imbalance of muscle tone and consequently slight mis-alignment of the cervical vertebrae. The end result PAIN.

[@ohmdilu2398]

.

[@tayyabbuttvlogs4426]

sir barry which glasses do u prefer for playing snooker

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

DRAGON. I have tried the large lens glasses and the type I use now which have a double hinge. One hinge allows the arms to fold away like conventional glasses and the second hinge allows the lens to be tilted at the correct angle.